Holiday portraits without the holiday stress.
At a glance
Maximus Visions photographs holiday family portrait sessions in Bergen County, New Jersey each autumn: $450 for 60 minutes with multiple scenes and an outfit change, or $350 for a focused 30-minute session. Galleries are edited and delivered on a card-season schedule, with park, downtown, and in-home settings available.
Every autumn we run dedicated holiday sessions built for one thing: beautiful family photographs in time for your cards, without a stressful production. Two formats — a relaxed 60-minute session with outfit changes and multiple scenes, or an efficient 30-minute session that wraps before the kids lose interest.
When should we book holiday photos?
Book by early October to shoot in the peak-color window — mid-October through the first week of November in Bergen County — and have your edited gallery back in time for card printing. Card-season slots are the first to fill each year; late-November dates work too, with a more wintry, bare-branch look.
Which format fits our family?
The 60-minute session ($450) suits families who want variety: multiple scenes, an outfit change, and a larger edited gallery. The 30-minute session ($350) is deliberately simple — one curated scene, professional direction, and a focused set of images. Families with toddlers often find the shorter format is exactly enough.
Where do holiday sessions happen?
Mostly at the parks we know best in autumn — Van Saun County Park, the Saddle River riverbank, and your own town's park if it has the light. In December, downtown Westwood's holiday lights make our favorite evening backdrop, and in-home sessions by the tree are always an option.
What's included
- ●30- or 60-minute session formats
- ●Curated scene setup and direction
- ●Edited digital images in an online gallery
- ●Timed for card-printing deadlines
- ●Outfit change included in 60-minute format
- ●Park, downtown, or in-home settings
Frequently asked
How fast do we get our holiday photos back?
Holiday galleries are edited and delivered on a card-season schedule — fast enough to print and mail before the holidays when you shoot by mid-November. We'll confirm the exact turnaround for your date when you book.
Can we include our dog in holiday photos?
Please do. Most parks we use allow leashed dogs, and we build a few minutes into the session for the full-family frame — dog included — before anyone's patience runs out.
What happens if it rains on our session date?
We watch the forecast together and reschedule within the same season at no charge. Autumn in New Jersey usually gives us a workable window within a few days.
Do you offer holiday mini sessions?
Our 30-minute format is the mini — one scene, quick pace, a focused gallery. Inquire early in the fall for available dates; they book in blocks and go quickly.
How much do holiday sessions cost?
The 60-minute holiday session is $450 and the 30-minute holiday session is $350. Both include an edited online gallery timed for card-printing deadlines; the 60-minute format adds multiple scenes and an outfit change.
Is a 30-minute session enough for a family of five?
For one scene and one grouping, yes — we've refined the 30-minute format to deliver a focused gallery without rushing. Choose the 60-minute session if you want multiple scenes, an outfit change, or breakout groupings like each kid solo and the grandparents' generation.
When do we need to shoot to have cards mailed by early December?
Work backwards: cards in mailboxes the first week of December means printing by late November, which means shooting by mid-November at the latest. Book an October date and the math gets comfortable — and you get peak foliage in the frame as a bonus.
What should we wear for holiday photos that won't look dated in five years?
Skip the themed sweaters and go timeless: soft neutrals, one or two deeper accent tones, and textures like knits and wool that read 'winter' without shouting 'holiday.' Our Journal's what-to-wear guide has full outfit formulas by season.
Other sessions we offer
- Wedding photography, ceremony to last dance. →
- Family portraits that feel like your family. →
- Engagement sessions built around a walk. →
Dates book quickly in peak season